"Snatching" vs "Legality"... Ministry of Justice and Supreme Prosecutors' Office Clash Over Choi Kang-wook's Indictment (Comprehensive)

Secretary Choi Prosecuted by Song Kyung-ho and Ko Hyung-gon... Lee Sung-yoon Passed
Ministry of Justice "Confirmed Possible Violation of Prosecutors' Office Act... Considering Inspection"
Supreme Prosecutors' Office "Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol Ordered Lawful Prosecution"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] On the 23rd, the Ministry of Justice stated that the prosecution's indictment of Choi Kang-wook, Secretary for Public Office Discipline at the Blue House, was a "rush indictment" and said "there is a need for an inspection." The Ministry of Justice announced in the afternoon that "Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae received a report on the progress of the indictment of Secretary Choi from Lee Sung-yoon, Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, and grasped the situation."

According to the Ministry of Justice, Chief Prosecutor Lee reported to Minister Choo that he gave specific instructions saying, "'It is not that we said not to indict, but indicting without a face-to-face investigation of the person involved is problematic in the investigation procedure, so it is appropriate to handle the case after a summons investigation.'" However, despite this instruction, the investigation team including Song Kyung-ho, 3rd Deputy Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, and Ko Hyung-gon, Head of the Anti-Corruption Investigation Division 2, indicted without the approval and authorization of the Chief Prosecutor.

The Ministry of Justice pointed out that such an indictment may violate Article 21, Paragraph 2 of the Prosecutors' Office Act, which mandates that prosecutors be directed by their affiliated chief prosecutors. The Ministry stated, "According to this regulation, case disposition is the exclusive duty of the chief prosecutor, and affiliated prosecutors handle cases under the delegation of the chief prosecutor," and added, "We have confirmed the need for an inspection regarding the circumstances of the indictment of the obstruction of business case, which may violate the Prosecutors' Office Act." Furthermore, it explained, "We are carefully reviewing the timing, subject, and method of the inspection."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Following the Ministry of Justice's announcement, the Supreme Prosecutors' Office immediately issued a rebuttal. The Supreme Prosecutors' Office sent a message to the press corps stating, "Based on the authority and responsibility of the Prosecutor General, who oversees inspection affairs according to the Prosecutors' Office Act and commands and supervises all prosecutors, the indictment against Secretary Choi was properly carried out." It was explained that since Chief Prosecutor Lee did not give final approval, the indictment was filed under the direction of Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl. The prosecution's final decision-making authority on case handling lies with the Prosecutor General.

Earlier, the Anti-Corruption Investigation Division 2 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (led by Chief Prosecutor Ko Hyung-gon) indicted Secretary Choi without detention on the charge of falsifying an internship confirmation letter for the son of former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk. The investigation team reportedly requested approval from Chief Prosecutor Lee on the afternoon of the 22nd by presenting the indictment and evidence list, but Chief Prosecutor Lee did not give final approval.

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